🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed routines including a show dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine Tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor. The couple performed dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final. View: Moment Strictly 2025 victors are crowned Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed routines including a show dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine Tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor. The couple performed dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine. However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness". The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final. The Hosts' Last Show An image from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off. During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the challenges conquered and the joy experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour. "If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all. "The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.